2006-07-05

You must be at least 18 years old. If you are younger than 18, you will need legal consent from your parents.

You must show acceptable identification such as a birth certificate, passport, treaty status card, Canadian citizenship card or driver's licence.

You cannot be related to the person you wish to marry by whole blood, half blood or adoption. For example, you may not marry your grandparent, parent, grandchild, child or sibling.

You must be currently unmarried.

If you are divorced, you must present proof the divorce is final such as a Certificate of Divorce or a Decree Absolute.

You must have your wedding in Alberta, however you do not have to be an Alberta resident to get married in Alberta.

You must be free of the influence of drugs and alcohol when you apply for a Marriage Licence (and when you participate in the wedding ceremony).

Both parties to the marriage must apply together for their marriage licence.

And the following additional requirements under special circumstances:

Both parties to the marriage must speak English. If they do not, it is their responsibility to provide an interpreter who is over 18 years old and is fluent in both English and the language requiring translation. If the registry agent issuing the Marriage Licence is fluent in the other language, then that registry agent may proceed as the interpreter for issuing the Marriage Licence. The couple applying for a licence cannot translate for each other.

If either party is deaf, a sign language interpreter may be required.

If either party is mentally challenged and a trustee or guardian has been appointed, proof that their trustee or guardian has been informed of the upcoming marriage is required.

Blood tests are not required.

But having recently received a marriage licence, a friend of mine has informed me of a few other requirements that have not been covered as of yet on the Alberta Government website. In particular:

Applicants must know the place of birth for both of their parents. This is more difficult than it might seem...he actually learned both birthplaces during the licencing process yesterday.

Both spouses must acknowledge that their spouse is not their personal property.The first bit is obviously put there for all of these Muslim wedders in modern-day Alberta who fail to realize that coming to the New World has traditionally meant that you were leaving the flawed traditions of the Old World behind (with onetwo noteworthy exceptions)

Both parties must solemnly swear that there will be no abuse of their partner, neither emotional nor physical. It seems odd that the emotional section is on there, as it would mean that every husband in Alberta is in an illegal marriage and can get an annulment.